Sean Scannell's late winner lit up a dull game and helped stretch Palace's unbeaten run to nine games.

With a minute remaining of a mediocre match, Lee Grant parried Clint Morrison's shot and substitute Scannell lobbed over the Wednesday keeper for his first senior goal.

"He's one of a number of kids who have done well," said manager Neil Warnock. "He has that pace teams don't like to defend against. He's a sensible lad and took his chance like an old campaigner."

Wednesday boss said Brian Laws said: "Steven Gerrard's house was broken into during the week and we we robbed today. I'm bitterly disappointed. We were comfortable and in control. We looked most likely to go on and score the winner."

The football was scrappy with entertainment in short supply. Both teams gave away possession cheaply while promising attacking moves usually came to nothing.

However, there seemed little danger in the 11th minute when Frank Simek tried a hopeful shot which Julian Speroni could only parry. The keeper blocked the follow-up shot by Richard Hind, though the defender was able to head the loose ball into the net.

Seven minutes before the interval Palace equalised. Danny Butterfield's cross was headed on by Mark Hudson and Clint Morrison's deft flick was his seventh goal in seven games.